State flood toll rises to 144, 4.5 l evacuated

MUMBAI: Rains continued to play havoc with life and property in Maharashtra. The toll has now climbed to 144, informed government officials taking stock of the rescue operations on Thursday. Manisha Patankar-Mhaiskar, state director general of publicity, said that more than 4.5 lakh people from the flood-hit areas have been evacuated so far with the help of army and navy personnel.

Eighty-seven persons are still missing. Ms Mhaiskar said 24 districts are now affected by floods. “In total, 5,421 villages in 161 tehsils of 24 districts are under the impact of floods.”

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to visit the flood-hit parts of Maharashtra on Friday. Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and deputy chief minister RR Patil conducted an aerial survey of Aurangabad and Buldhana districts on Thursday.

The CM also visited some relief camps in the religious town of Pandharpur in Pune which is in a critical state. Mr Deshmukh and Mr Patil will accompany the Prime Minister on his visit to the flood-hit parts of the state.

Ms Mhaiskar told reporters that the flood situation in Pandharpur and Sangli continued to be critical due to the flooded Krishna river flowing close to the danger level.

Flood situation in other parts, however, was improving and, except in Konkan, no part of the state reported heavy showers on Thursday. Water levels in major rivers are also being monitored and water is being discharged from dams to control flooding.

The state government has launched a massive rescue operation with army and navy personnel. The army and the state government have pressed into service 11 helicopters to airdrop food packets for the marooned people and carry out evacuation wherever possible.

In Solapur district alone, more than 31,000 people have been shifted to 62 relief camps where foodgrains and medicine are being provided by the government and non-government organisations.

The army has deployed 18 units across the state in rescue operations, with each unit equipped with two boats. The state government had also pressed into service 54 boats.